Kicukiro Primary Court on Wednesday, November 6, handed a three-month suspended sentence to Miss Rwanda 2022, Divine Nshuti Muheto, in a case related to drunk driving. The sentence is suspended for one year. She was also slapped with a Rwf190,000 fine. ALSO READ: Prosecution seeks 20-month jail term for Miss Rwanda 2022 Muheto A suspended sentence is a sentence on conviction for a criminal offence, the serving of which the court orders to be deferred in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation. It is a legal arrangement in which a person who has been found guilty of a crime is not sentenced to jail but may be sentenced for that crime at a future time if he or she commits another crime during a specified period. Delivering the verdict, the presiding judge said that Muheto was convicted of drunk driving and driving without a license but acquitted of fleeing the scene after causing an accident. The court ordered her immediate release following the ruling. Court heard that Muheto admitted to the two offenses during a previous hearing but the evidence did not support the charge of fleeing the scene. The hearing on October 31 saw the prosecution request a one-year and eight-month jail term for Muheto. She was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, damaging public infrastructure, and fleeing the scene after causing an accident on the night of October 24 while driving from a bar in Kicukiro District, Kigali, to her residence in Kimironko. During her arraignment in court, the prosecutor stated that Muheto was driving under the influence when she crashed into an electricity pole and a palm tree. Police later conducted an alcohol test which disclosed that her blood alcohol level was high. The prosecutor also questioned Muheto’s driving skill, highlighting that she has no driving license. In her defense, Muheto admitted to driving under the influence and causing damage to public infrastructure but denied fleeing the scene of the accident. ALSO READ: Motorcyclists cautioned against drunk driving after 860 incidents in six months Her legal team argued against a jail sentence, suggesting that she be fined instead. They emphasized her role as an advocate for national initiatives, particularly her projects aimed at combat stunting. Her lawyers also pointed out that she has shown remorse and asked for forgiveness. Additionally, they highlighted her status as a student at the African Leadership University (ALU), stressing the importance of allowing her to continue her studies.
